Work in the New Economy
Flexible Labor Markets in Silicon Valley
Published on 30. April 2008
312 pages
978-0-470-69541-8 (ISBN)
Description
This book contributes to our understanding of the transformation ofwork in the information economy, through a detailed examination oflabor markets in Silicon Valley. It provides an original andinsightful analysis of flexible labor including growing volatilityin work demands and increasingly tenuous employment relations.
* * Contributes to our understanding of the transformation of workin the information economy, through a detailed examination of labormarkets in Silicon Valley.
* Provides an original and insightful analysis of flexible laborincluding growing volatility in work demands and increasinglytenuous employment relations.
* Examines the increasingly important role of labor marketintermediaries.
* Shows that some workers clearly thrive in this vibrant context,but many face high levels of insecurity admist growinginquality.
Reviews / Votes
"The labor market in Silicon Valley is the likely harbingerof things to come in the rest of the American economy. ChrisBenner's analysis of this market's structure should betaken very seriously. He has brought us a vast amount ofinformation that will help policy makers plan for thefuture." Professor Martin Carnoy, Stanford University "Benner's work on the Silicon Valley's labormarkets provides valuable insights for policymakers and activistsas well as scholars who care about the future of work and workersin the new economy." ProfessorAnnaLee Saxenian, UCBerkeley "Chris Benner, in his ground-breaking study of Work in theNew Economy has done us an immense favour by offering analternative way to conceptualize labour markets, a way which notonly allows us to capture the dynamics within them, but also helpsus move dialectically between structuralist approaches and thoserooted in notions of individual agency." International Review ofSocial HistoryMore details
Other editions
Additional editions
Software
03/2008
Wiley
€96.54
No shipping information available
Book
08/2002
Wiley
€153.26
Article exhausted; check different version
Book
08/2002
Wiley
€70.23
Article exhausted; check different version
Person
Chris Benner is an Assistant Professor of Geography at the Pennsylvania State University and a Research Associate at both the Sociology of Work Program at the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa) and the Center for Justice, Tolerance and Community at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has written extensively on workforce development and training systems, labor flexibility, non-standard employment, employment insecurity, regional development policy, dynamics of occupational learning networks, and new forms of labor organizing. His publications have appeared in a range of both academic journals and more popular outlets. He received his doctorate in City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.
Content
Intermediaries 5
Careers 7
Research Data 9
PART I FLEXIBILITY AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF WORK ANDEMPLOYMENT 11
1 Understanding Flexibility 13
Labor Markets in the Information Economy 15
Flexible Work and Flexible Employment 21
2 Silicon Valley: Changing Industry Structure and EmploymentPractices 37
Flexible Work and Employment Practices 39
Economic Change and Flexibility 49
Conclusion: Flexibility and Volatility 76
Appendix 2.1: Industry Cluster Analysis 77
PART II FLEXIBILITY AND INTERMEDIARIES 81
3 Flexibility and Intermediation 83
Labor Market Intermediaries 86
Intermediation and Markets 89
Intermediation and Flexible Labor Markets 92
Conclusion: Increasing Intermediation 97
4 Labor Market Intermediaries - Private Sector99
Temporary Help Agencies 102
Consultant Brokerage Firms 110
Web-based Intermediaries 117
Employer of Record 123
Professional Employer Organizations 125
Conclusion: The Labor Market as Business Opportunity 128
5 Labor Market Intermediaries - Membership based130
Blurring Boundaries 132
Silicon Valley Membership-based Intermediaries 138
Conclusion: Building Community-based Careers 175
6 Labor Market Intermediaries - Public Sector177
Workforce Development System 179
Education-based Intermediaries 187
Non profit/Community-based Initiatives 197
Conclusion: Workforce Development Challenges 198
PART III FLEXIBILITY AND CAREERS 201
7 Careers in Silicon Valley 203
Growing Inequality 206
Factors Contributing to Inequality 216
Flexibility and Labor Market Outcomes 220
Intermediaries and Labor Market Outcomes 226
Conclusion: Significant Problems Exist 231
Appendix 7.1: Silicon Valley Wage Data 232
8 Flexibility and Security 234
New Concepts for Labor Markets in the Information Economy238
Intermediaries and Labor Market Policy 247
Labor Flexibility and a New Employment Contract 250
A Final Word 261
References 262
Index 281
